Drug-affected driver sues Commonwealth after hitting schoolboys; sentenced to 13 years jail
Consensus Summary
Tayler Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison for a March 2023 hit-and-run involving two schoolboys outside St Edmund's College in Canberra. Hazell, 32, was under the influence of drugs when he stole a car from a childcare centre in New South Wales, drove erratically, and struck the 14- and 15-year-old victims before crashing. The incident was captured on bodycam footage, which also showed police officers using excessive force during Hazellâs arrest, leading to an AFP investigation confirming professional standards were breached. Hazell pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, and the judge described his actions as catastrophic, noting a lack of remorse. Meanwhile, Hazell is pursuing a civil claim against the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, alleging injuries from the arrest, with damages sought for pain, embarrassment, and violence. The victimsâ families expressed relief at the conclusion of the criminal case, praising the justice systemâs handling and the resilience of the injured boys. Construction of a signalised crossing near the school has since begun to improve safety in the area.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tayler Hazell, 32, was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years for culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm to two schoolboys aged 14 and 15 outside St Edmund's College in March 2023
- Hazell pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, stealing a car, and unlawfully taking a child
- The incident occurred on March 28 2023, when Hazell drove a stolen green Commodore erratically, struck two schoolboys on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, and crashed outside Manuka
- Hazell was under the influence of drugs during the incident and had an eight-year-old girl inside the stolen car before letting her out
- Bodycam footage shows Hazell being forcibly taken to the ground by AFP Tactical Response Team officers after being handcuffed, with an AFP investigation finding their conduct breached professional standards
- Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, seeking damages for injuries including pain, fear, embarrassment, and aggravated damages for violence and disgrace, with the civil case expected in July 2024
- The two victims were aged 14 and 15, and the incident occurred while they were waiting to cross the road on the median strip outside St Edmund's College
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Hazell's statement of claim explicitly states his face was injured and covered in his own blood during the arrest
- Prosecutors had already accepted the force used by police was unlawful prior to the civil case filing
- Acting Justice Burns described Hazell as 'a person who places your wants over others' and stated he lied during court proceedings to achieve shorter sentences
- The article mentions an internal AFP investigation found officers' treatment of Hazell breached professional standards, with footage showing Hazell saying 'Nah man, I'm done, I'm done' before being shoved to the ground
- The article includes a quote from Joshua Way (father of victim Aaron Way) thanking St Edmund's College principal Tim Cleary for support during the incident
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
Source Articles
Drug-fuelled driver who hit schoolboys sues Commonwealth over arrest
Tayler Hazell, who will be sentenced tomorrow over a hit-and-run that seriously injured two children, is suing the federal government, alleging police violently treated him during his arrest....
Driver sentenced to 13 years' jail over hit-and-run of Canberra schoolboys
It's almost a year to the day since Tayler Hazell drove a stolen car erratically through Canberra, seriously injuring two children....